Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEWFBC’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEWFBC’, characterized by its compact, uniform, upright to outwardly spreading and semi-trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and single-type female and male flowers that are pinkish red and white bi-colored.

Botanical designation: Begonia boliviensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBEWFBC’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Beekenkamp Plants B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on May 21, 2021, application number 2021/1333. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or the Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia boliviensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBEWFBC’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely branching Begonia plants with numerous attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination in March, 2016 of a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code number H11-079-05, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code number 15-0000-05, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in September, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, since December, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBEWFBC’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKPBEWFBC’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, uniform, upright to outwardly spreading and         semi-trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single-type female and male flowers that are pinkish red and         white bi-colored.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more upright than and not as         trailing as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flower tepals of plants of the new Begonia are pinkish red         and white bi-colored whereas flower tepals of plants of the         female parent selection are salmon and white bi-colored.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more upright than and not as         trailing as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Flower tepals of plants of the new Begonia are pinkish red         and white bi-colored whereas flower tepals of plants of the male         parent selection are salmon and white bi-colored.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia boliviensis ‘BKPBEWFER’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,959. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of ‘BKPBEWFER’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more compact than and not as         trailing as plants of ‘BKPBEWFER’.     -   2. Flower tepals of plants of the new Begonia are pinkish red         and white bi-colored whereas flower tepals of plants of         ‘BKPBEWFER’ are bright red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPBEWFBC’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) are close-up views of the upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves and developing and developed flowers of ‘BKPBEWFBC’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown during the spring in 11-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 19° C. and light levels averaged 6,000 lux. Plants were eleven weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia boliviensis ‘BKPBEWFBC’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis identified as code number H11-079-05, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis identified as code number 15-0000-05, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 32 days             at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 35 days             at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically beige in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; to             date, plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to             form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, uniform, upright to             outwardly spreading and semi-trailing plant habit; plant             shape roughly globular; freely branching habit with about             four basal branches each with about five lateral branches             developing per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 15.6             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 18.5             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 26.3 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 7.4 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Strength:             Moderately weak, bending with the weight of the leaves and             flowers. Aspect: About 30° from vertical. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 152A slightly tinged with close to             182B. Color, developed: Darker than a blend of 148A and             197A; at the internodes, close to 144A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, distichous;             simple. Length: About 8.1 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Oblique; lobes not imbricate.             Margin: Crenate; teeth apices, abruptly acute. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; not             rugose; slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             147A tinged with close to 200B. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 183A to 183B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Darker than a blend of close to 147A and N189A;             venation, close to 136C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 183A; venation, close to 146A to 146B.             Petioles: Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely             pubescent; moderately glossy. Strength: Low. Color, upper             surface: Close to 152A, slightly tinged with close to 176A,             mostly at the leaf attachment. Color, lower surface: Close             to 152A, slightly tinged with close to 176A. Stipules:             Quantity per leaf: Two at the base of each leaf. Length:             About 7 mm. Width: About 3.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Broadly cuneate. Margins: Entire, finely ciliate.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C; venation,             close to 183C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate female and male flowers are             single-types; flowers arranged in simple axillary cymes;             freely flowering habit with about four flowers per cyme and             about 80 flowers developing per plant during the flowering             season; flowers face outwardly to slightly nodding or             drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn             in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 13 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8 cm.         -   Flower buds, female flowers.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter,             flattened: About 1 cm to 1.4 cm. Shape: Oblong; flattened.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color,             upper surface: Close to 37B to 37C. Color, lower surface:             Close to 145D; developing ovary, close to 144C.         -   Flower buds, male flowers.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter,             flattened: About 6 mm to 14 mm. Shape: Roughly ovate;             flattened. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; velvety;             matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 44D to slightly             lighter than 44D. Color, lower surface: Close to a blend of             145D and 150D.         -   Female flowers.—Size: About 4.2 cm by 4.3 cm. Depth: About             3.4 cm. Tepals: Quantity per flower and arrangement: Five in             two whorls; inner whorl with three tepals and outer whorl             with two tepals. Length, inner tepals: About 3 cm. Length,             outer tepals: About 2.8 cm. Width, inner tepals: About             1.4 cm. Width, outer tepals: About 1.5 cm. Shape, inner             tepals: Narrowly oblong to narrowly obovate. Shape, outer             tepals: Ovate to obovate. Apex, inner tepals: Obtuse. Apex,             outer tepals: Obtuse to broadly and bluntly acute. Base,             inner and outer tepals: Cuneate. Margin, inner and outer             tepals: Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, inner and             outer tepals, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             velvety; matte. Texture and luster, inner and outer tepals,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Color, inner tepals: When opening, upper surface:             Close to 157A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 157A             tinged with close to 44D to lighter than 44D. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 157D; venation, close to 195B; color             does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 157D flushed with close to 38A and             38B; venation, close to 195D; color does not change with             subsequent development. Color, outer tepals: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 157A. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 44D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 36A;             venation, close to 35C; color does not change with             subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 41B; venation, close to 195D; color does not change with             subsequent development. Tepaloids: None observed on female             flowers.         -   Male flowers.—Size: About 6 cm by 6 cm. Depth: About 2.4 cm.             Tepals: Quantity per flower and arrangement: Four in two             whorls; inner whorl with two tepals and outer whorl with two             tepals. Length, inner tepals: About 3.8 cm. Length, outer             tepals: About 3.4 cm. Width, inner tepals: About 1.5 cm.             Width, outer tepals: About 2.3 cm. Shape, inner tepals:             Narrowly oblong to oblanceolate. Shape, outer tepals: Ovate.             Apex, inner and outer tepals: Obtuse. Base, inner and outer             tepals: Cuneate. Margin, inner and outer tepals: Entire; not             undulate. Texture and luster, inner and outer tepals, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte.             Texture and luster, inner and outer tepals, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Color,             inner tepals: When opening, upper surface: Close to 157B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 157A tinged with close             to 44D to lighter than 44D. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 157D, towards the base, close to 36C;             venation, close to 195D; color does not change with             subsequent development. Color, outer tepals: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 157B tinged with close to 35D. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 41C flushed with close to             157A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 36A to 36D;             venation, close to 195D; color does not change with             subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 41B, occasionally, variably and strongly tinged and             flushed with close to 38A to 38D to lighter than 38D;             venation, close to 195D; color does not change with             subsequent development. Tepaloids: None observed on male             flowers.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: About 45° from lateral branch axis. Strength:             Moderately weak; flexible and bending with the weight of the             flowers. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D,             tinged with close to 172B, mostly towards the pedicel             attachment.         -   Pedicels, female flowers.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter:             About 1.75 mm. Angle: About 45° from the peduncle axis.             Strength: Moderately weak; flexible, bending with the weight             of the flowers. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to a blend of 45A and             185A. Color, lower surface: Close to 177D.         -   Pedicels, male flowers.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter:             About 1.75 mm. Angle: Mostly upright. Strength: Moderately             weak; flexible, bending with the weight of the flowers.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, upper             surface: Close to 34B. Color, lower surface: Close to 173D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Two, at             the top of the peduncles. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About             1 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire; ciliate. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 173A to 173B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present only on male             flowers. Stamen quantity per flower: About 30. Filament             length: About 3.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 13C. Anther             size: About 1 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther             color: Close to 5B. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 4D. Gynoecium: Present only on female flowers.             Quantity per flower: About three. Pistil length: About 6 mm.             Stigma diameter: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma             color: Close to 9A. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color:             Close to 9A. Ovary color: Close to 144B to 144C, at the             apex, close to 42B. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and             fruit development have not been observed on plants of the             new Begonia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and     pests common to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of     the new Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEWFBC’ as illustrated and described. 